Archery bow draw check clicker



July 7, 1970 v BUNKER 3,518,959

ARCHERY BOW DRAW CHECK CLICKER Filed July 8. 1969 FIG. 5

INVENTOR- ATTORNEY ROBERT L. BUM ER United States Patent O 3,518,959 ARCHERY BOW DRAW CHECK CLICKER Robert L. Bunker, 429 Crows Mill Road, Fords, NJ. 08863 Filed July 8, 1969, Ser. No. 839,961 Int. Cl. G08!) 3/00 US. Cl. 116-67 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An archery bow draw check and clicker comprises a plate attachable to the side of the bow in the arrow area and has forwardly-projecting lugs which are provided with seating means, such as indentations, for holding the ends of a shaft which may be readily removed, when desired. A narrow upwardly extending lever is mounted at its bottom to the shaft so as to swivel outwardly and move sidewise. A spring mounted around the shaft serves to press the lever against the plate, and also against an arrow which may be disposed between the lever and the plate, with enough force to cause a clicking sound when the arrow is pulled free of the lever, and serving as a signal to release the string of the bow. The lever is moved along the shaft to allow for changes in target distance, and a forwardly-projecting finger tab on the bottom of the lever facilitates separation of the lever from the plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In target archery, it is important to maintain the same draw of the bow string, regardless of the target distance. For example, many archers have found that a distance of 27 /2" from the arm to the chin is a desirable bow draw. To compensate for the target distance, the arrow head distance is changed with respect to the bow, and the finger position is moved on the string to correct for change in trajectory.

There have been prior art devices serving as draw checks and employing trigger signalling means which were placed high on the bow. However, such devices have been declared as illegal for bare bow shooting by both national and international archery associations for the reason that such devices could be used as sights.

In Pats. 2,743,716 and 2,777,435, devices are described for holding an arrow on the bow. These are designed to be released when the arrow is pulled back for shooting game, but such devices are inapplicable for the purposes set forth herein. The latter serve to provide an audible signal to the archer when the arrow head is in proper distance position for the shot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a positioning means is disposed on the side of the bow above the hand and in the arrow area, for positioning the arrow head for the target distance of the particular shot. In addition, a signalling means is provided, so that when the specific arrow head location is reached, a click is sounded as a signal for the archer to release the string and arrow.

The device is attached to the side of the bow in the arrow area, and the arrow is inserted between a laterallymovable spring-loaded lever and a plate. As soon as the arrow head clears the lever, a click is heard as the signal to release the arrow. The lever is slid or screwed along a shaft to allow for positioning the arrowhead for the particular target distance to be shot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which a preferred embodiment is described, and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an elevational. side view of the unit shown in FIG. 1, but with an arrow shown in cross-section, and inserted in said unit in shooting position; and

FIG. 3 presents a bottom view of the unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a side elevational view of the central portion of a bow having mounted thereon a bow draw check clicker of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear elevational view of the portion shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 presents a front elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention.

The same numerals represent similar parts in the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted, numeral 10 represents a flat plate, preferably of weather-resistant material, such as stainless steel, plastic, or the like. Adhesive material may be placed on the back 11 to enable the attaching of the plate onto the side 26 of the bow in the arrow placement area. On each side of the lower portion of plate 10 are forwardly-projecting lugs 12 and 13, and these are provided with outwardly-disposed indentations 14 and 15, respectively, which serve as seating means or bearings for the ends of shaft 16, on which is mounted clicker lever 17. The latter has, attached near its bottom, a sleeve 18 which is able to ride, in sliding relation, on shaft 16. The lowermost portion of clicker lever 17, comprises a forwardly-projecting piece 19 which may be depressed with the finger to separate clicker lever 17 from plate 10. A spring 20 is coiled around shaft 16, and has one end 21 abutting the front middle portion of clicker lever 17, tending to press it against plate 10., The other end 22 of the spring presses against the lower portion of plate 10.

The face of plate 10 may be provided with distance marks 23, if desired, to aid the archer in spotting clicker lever 17 on shaft 16. Also, the inner face of the upper portion of clicker lever 17 may be coated with a textile or felt layer 24 to muffie the clicking signal to the desired loudness.

FIG. 6 illustrates another form of bow draw check clicker of the present invention. In this case, shaft 16' has a threaded body and an enlarged [knurled portion 28 at one end. The portion of sleeve 18' around shaft 18' is threaded so that lever 17 may be moved sidewise by rotation of knurled portion 28 with the thumb. Plate 10' may be provided with various slotted holes 29 in which screws may be inserted for fastening the plate onto side 26 of the bow. Adjustment of the plate may be made by loosening the screws and moving the plate to the desired position, after which the screws are tightened. Spring 20 will follow lever 17 as it is moved on shaft 16'.

It will be noted, from FIGS. 4-5, that plate 10 is attached to the side 26 of the bow above the hand grip 30. The bow draw check clicker of the present invention is usually used in conjunction with an arrow rest 27, of any conventional make, which is also mounted on the bow side 26 rearwardly of plate 10. Arrow 25 is set on rest 27 after lever 17 has been pulled away from plate 10 by depression of tab 19. Thereafter, the arrow shaft rests against the arcuate upper portion 31 of lever 17. The action of spring 20 causes lever 17 to press lightly against arrow 25, but not enough to pinch the arrow against plate 10.

Thereafter, the fingers on the string are adjusted to allow for the trajectory, and the string and arrow are pulled back until a click is heard when the arrowhead slips 0 out between lever 17 and plate 10. When this takes place, spring 20 pulls lever 17 back so it snaps against plate 10 with a click, which is the signal to release the string. As the targets become shorter away from the archer, clicker lever 17 is moved farther to the left on shaft 16, and the hand is lowered farther on the string.

One advantage of the present mounting of the shaft 16 is that when spring 20 requires changing, it is easily effected by spreading apart lugs 12. and 13, so that shaft 16 may he slipped out readily, and the spring replaced.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the present invention provides both a draw check as well as signalling means to indicate when the arrowhead is in position for the shot.

I claim:

1. An archery bow draw check clicker, comprising:

a plate mountable on the side of a bow in the arrow area and having forwardly-projecting lugs on its bottom portion, said lugs having shaft end seating means,

a shaft disposed between said lugs and removably held in said seating means,

a narrow upwardly-extending lever mounted at its bottom on said shaft in a manner such as to swivel outwardly and to move sidewise thereon,

spring means disposed around said shaft in a manner so as to press said lever against said plate with tension sufficient to press against an arrow insertable between said lever and said plate and thereafter to cause a clicking noise when said arrow is drawn free of said lever, but insufficient to pinch said arrow against said plate.

2. An archery bow draw check clicker, according to claim 1, in which said seating means comprise indentations, in which said shaft ends are held.

3. An archery bow draw check clicker, according to claim 1, in which a distance scale is disposed on the front face of said plate.

4. An archery bow draw check clicker, according to claim 1, in which said lever has a finger tab projecting forwardly from its bottom for separating said lever from said plate against the action of said spring.

5. An archery bow draw check clicker, according to claim 1, in which the upper portion of said lever is made of arcuate shape to follow the contour of an arrow shaft.

6. An archery bow draw check clicker, according to claim 1, in which said shaft is provided with threads, and said lower portion of said lever has a threaded opening coacting with the threaded shaft to effect sidewise movement of said lever when said shaft is turned.

7. An archery bow draw check clicker, according to claim 6, in which said shaft has a knurled enlarged portion at one end to facilitate turning of said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,975,780 3/ 1961 Fisher 12424 3,097,624 7/ 1963 Bergquist 116--67 3,463,117 8/1969 Killian 116-1 14 LOUIS J. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 124-23 

